1994 Fall TV Preview Thursday

New York Undercover
Fox, 9-10 p.m.
* Concept: Two undercover cops solve crimes while really loud hip-hop music plays on the soundtrack.
* The Scoop: Cocreated by producer Dick Wolf (Law & Order), Undercover immediately distinguishes itself by its nonwhite leads, Malik Yoba and Michael DeLorenzo. Up-front about ethnicity, Undercover allows its street-smart characters to use more arcane slang than your average Matlock fan might be able to follow. It also gives welcome screen time to Gladys Knight as a nightclub owner who regularly bursts into song. If the series is as well- written as the pilot-"It's not Sesame Street, with a message in every show," says DeLorenzo with justifiable pride-Undercover might prove as gutsy as NYPD Blue.
* Bottom Line: It's smart counterprogramming to Seinfeld, and with Martin and Living Single as lead-ins may well attract a sizable audience.

Madman of the People
NBC, 9:30-10 p.m. (premiering Sept. 22)
* Concept: Daughter Knows Best.
* The Scoop: Veteran grouch Dabney Coleman stars as a magazine writer (don't doze off yet) whose publication has been taken over by his daughter (now you can doze). Cynthia Gibb plays straight-woman boss to Coleman's curmudgeon cutup. Wasn't there a worry that, after the brilliant misanthrope he played in Buffalo Bill and the depressed one he was in The "Slap" Maxwell Story, viewers just don't like his comic persona? Exec producer Christopher Cluess insists, "There is a certain boyishness here as opposed to some of his other things, where he just came across as a little mean. He's not mean here; he's edgy."

* Bottom Line: Coleman's kinda mean here too. But in the post-Seinfeld time slot, this is one show most industry analysts are picking as a hit.

Returning Shows

Martin (Fox, 8-8:30 p.m.) and Living Single (Fox, 8:30-9 p.m.) This sitcom block has moved from Sunday nights, and Martin (Martin Lawrence) has moved up in the world: He'll leave the radio station for his own TV show, Speak Out. "The idea of a radio show just wasn't working for comedy," says new executive producer Samm-Art Williams (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air). "If you're on the radio, people can't see you." In another big move, Martin will tie the knot with fiancee Gina (Tisha Campbell). Single's Khadijah (Queen Latifah) will get serious with her boyfriend, Scooter (Cress Williams), and the show will get serious, too. "We'll be getting topical from time to time like Roseanne," says executive producer Yvette Lee Bowser. "But we won't spout statistics like Designing Women."

Mad About You (NBC, 8-8:30 p.m.) "We don't want to give away too many surprises, but each week we'll be in a different language," joshes star Paul Reiser. "The Dutch episode is something quite special." Actually, viewers will spend a half hour with Paul and Jamie (Helen Hunt) as they take a cab home from a party, and an hour with them as they flash back to their wedding in an episode planned for February. Love is also in the air for Murray the dog: He'll knock up the pooch next door.